Head Lice Removal

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Heat Device Faq’s

(Aka “AirAllé “)

How does it work?

Head lice and lice eggs have high water content and they are accustomed to living in a protected and humid environment. Rapid exposure to large amounts of dry, heated air causes them to dry out and die. The device delivers the right amount of heated air that does just that.

Does it really work?

Yes! Because it is an FDA-cleared device, we can’t make up efficacy claims that aren’t backed up by clinical data.

Why is the heat treatment only about an hour when other lice treatments can take so long?

It only takes 30 seconds of exposure from the device to kill lice and eggs in a given area. By following a set pattern on the head, it takes trained operators approximately 30 minutes to expose all areas of a typical head. The treatment then includes a comb-out to remove dead lice and eggs. These post-device comb-outs usually take half an hour.

Why is a 99.2-percent kill rate of lice eggs so important?

Lice eggs are harder to kill than the adult lice or nymphs using pesticides, herbal remedies, or suffocation products. If you don’t kill or remove all the lice eggs, you will continue to have an infestation when they hatch. This is why most lice-treatment options require additional applications a week or more after the initial treatment.

Can I buy a device?

No, but you can get treated at one of our salons located in Oakland and San Francisco.

Is the heat treatment the best way to kill lice and eggs?

That depends on your definition of which lice treatment is best for you. The device certainly delivers a fast, safe, highly effective way to kill head lice and eggs with a very little chance of a second treatment

Where can I find a treatment location?

Go to either our home page or service page and you can either call us or make an appointment online

Are there any risks with the heat treatment?

To date, no adverse effects have been reported; no one has been hurt by this treatment. However, as is the case with all medical devices, there are some risks which, although they have been reduced to levels that are as low as reasonably practicable, are still possible when the device is used.

Who should get a heat treatment?

The AirAllé device is intended to kill or remove head lice and their eggs in the hair of adults and children.

Is the device a non-toxic lice treatment?

Absolutely. It uses just heated air to kill the head lice and eggs. It is a clean, dry treatment that uses no chemicals, essential oils, conditioners, etc.

Is using heat creating more resistance to kill lice?

Although there is much documentation showing head lice are rapidly evolving resistance to many traditional pesticide-based products, it is highly unlikely they would be able to evolve a resistance to getting dried out from heat and air. Think about this treatment as a knife as a weapon, compared to poisoning lice with chemicals and lotions as a weapon.

Does the length of hair impact the effectiveness of an heat treatment?

No. As long as the hair can be combed or picked through with a standard comb, the type or length of hair does not impact the device’s effectiveness.

Does the heat device have to be used in conjunction with another lice product?

Yes. The heat treatment consists of using both the device as well as a quick comb-out with a louse comb. Most technicians also apply a final rinse of dimethicone oil at the end of the treatment to kill any remaining hatched lice that may have survived the treatment.

What does the device look like?

It kind of looks like a vacuum cleaner with a long hose and an applicator tip at the end. But instead of sucking air, it blows heated air at a controlled flow rate and temperature.